Mr. Palmer is currently
serving as Acting Principal at Tawanka Elementary School, replacing
Robin Klaiber who left for a Principal position with the Lower Merion
School District in August. Mr.
Palmer also previously served as Acting Principal at Tawanka during the
2016-2017 school year.
Stephanie Washam will serve as Principal at Joseph Ferderbar Elementary School in Feasterville, and Donald Palmer at Tawanka Elementary School in Langhorne. Ms. Washam is replacing Judy Brown, who retired as Principal at Ferderbar in August, 2018. District administrator Andre Modica is currently serving as Acting Principal at Ferderbar, and will return to his former position as Assistant Principal at Maple Point Middle School once the transition is complete. Superintendent Joseph Jones III said the selection process to fill these two positions started over the summer. A committee that included administrators, teachers, parents and School Board members reviewed qualifications and interviewed potential candidates. “We were impressed by the quality and credentials of the all candidate,” he said. “After careful consideration and input from a variety of stakeholders, we are confident that these two individuals have the leadership capabilities, skills and personalities that will inspire excellence from their staff and students while maintaining strong, caring learning environments at their schools.” “Mr. Palmer has already demonstrated these qualities in his previous and current roles at Neshaminy, and Ms. Washam is a welcome addition to our District leadership team. Background information for Ms. Washam and Mr. Palmer can be found at the links below. Robotics team forming at NHSStudents competing on a
Robotics Team at Bensalem High School will be working with a new team
at Neshaminy High School this year in a mentorship program. The two
teams will compete together in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC),
which is held regionally, nationally and throughout the world.
During the FRC, teams design, build and operate game-playing robots that compete in a series of tasks which change annually. The robots, which can weigh up to 120 pounds, will be required to complete such tasks as throwing balls and flying discs into goals, placing tubes on to racks, balancing on beams, and maneuvering on a course. Competitions are normally held in gymnasiums, and winning teams can move on to regional or even national competition. Following the one-year mentorship, the teams at both schools can continue to compete together or Neshaminy can set out on its own. Discovery Night celebrates music program![]() Students in grades 3-6
and their families were invited to Neshaminy High School September 7 to
try out string and wind instruments and find out more about the
award-winning music program at Neshaminy. Each music room at the high
school featured different instruments, and high school musicians
assisted with the demonstrations along with music teachers from
throughout the District.
This year, Neshaminy is celebrating a second recognition (two years in a row) by the National Association of Music Marketers as a Best Community for Music Education in the nation. Join us and help Build Futures!Do you love working with
kids and want to jump-start a career in
education right here at Neshaminy? A number of additional opportunities
throughout the District for
certified and support staff can be found at the district employment
site below (updated frequently). All applicants will be required
to obtain Pennsylvania clearances.
The Guest Teacher program offers individuals who hold at least a Bachelors degree (but no active PA teaching certificate) the opportunity to obtain emergency certification to substitute teach in Neshaminy schools. Jump-start a career in education and work when you want! Click the link below for more information, training dates and locations. Other opportunities include full time, part time and substitute positions to fit a variety of schedules, experience levels and interests. September We Build Futures Award winners
Pearl S. Buck Elementary SchoolConstitution Day celebrated in song![]() Third-and fourth-grade students celebrated Constitution Day September 17 by gathering in the cafeteria for a patriotic singalong (rain prevented an outdoor celebration by the flagpole). The students sang the "National Anthem" and "My Country 'Tis of Thee" to honor the 231st anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Joseph Ferderbar Elementary SchoolSummer readers enjoy an in-school carnival![]() Students who participated in the summer reading program at Ferderbar were treated to an in-school carnival on September 26. To complete the program the students had to read 12 books, 3 non-fiction articles and write 10 journal entries. The carnival included games, snacks and prizes. Herbert Hoover Elementary SchoolBook Exchanges open reading horizons
Vote for Hoover students at Peddler's VillageStudents in Jaimie Salt's
class are creating a "Growing Awareness" project that they are going to
enter in the Peddler's Village Scarecrow contest. The Neshaminy
community can support these creative students by voting for their
"Growing Awareness" project at Peddler's Village in Lahaska between
October 10 and 28. They are listed under Group Category 18.
Walter Miller Elementary SchoolReading Week activities honoredIn May the teachers and
students at Walter Miller celebrated Children’s Book Week in a variety
of ways—“Read Me” Day, “We Read, Too! Can You Guess Who?”, and voting
for the Children’s Choice Awards, to name a few. The Children’s Book
Council chose Walter Miller Elementary as a winner for one of the best
Children’s Book Week Activities and Display Contest winners. For their
fine effort, the school received a box full of books, including the
books nominated for the Children’s Choice Awards.
Reading teachers Catherine Riley and Kelly Dougherty were responsible for organizing the week's activities. New running club inspires girls
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Garden Club beautifies Schweitzer entrance
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![]() Schweitzer
Garden Club
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The club is organized by Instructional Assistant Mary Ellen Pulak and meets during the school day at recess. They occassionally receive assistance on their projects from the Service Learning Club at Schweitzer.
CARES picnic starts a great year
The Schweitzer community held a Welcome Back CARES picnic Friday, September 21. Students and their families joined Schweitzer staff to welcome the 2018-2019 school year. Families came picnic-style with blankets and enjoyed time together meeting with familiar friends and families as well as new families to Schweitzer. There was a food truck and Kona ice truck available as well as a 50/50 and CARES Spirit Stick sale. CARES (Cooperation, Attitude, Respect, Empathy, Safety) is the positive behavior program at Schweitzer.
Tawanka Elementary School
All-teacher band recruits young musicians

Tawanka
3rd and 4th grade
students had the opportunity to watch a band made up of District
music teachers perform the different instruments available to
elementary students in the Neshaminy School District. The group gathers
at the beginning of each school year to build interest in instrumental
music and demonstrate options students may have not yet considered. As
a finale, the group performs several recognizable songs together. Over
two days, they visited all six elementary schools in the district to
present this fun, informative program.
Summer program inspires readers - and writers
Over 100 students
participated in the summer reading program at Tawanka. Besides reading
a number of books, the students also kept a journal, writing everything
from their vacation memories to original stories.
Maple Point Middle School
Speakers bring Constitution Day to life

The 231st anniversary of
the signing of the U.S. Constitution was celebrated across the nation
September 17. Students at Maple Point Middle School were treated to
assemblies featuring community presenters who embody the purpose and
ideals of the Constitution every day. Pennsylvania Rep. Frank
Farry spoke to fifth-grade students; PA Sen. Tommy Tomlinson spoke to
6th grade students; US Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Middletown
Township Board of Supervisors Chairperson Amy Strouse shared the
spotlight for a 7th-grade presentation; Middletown Township Police
Chief Joe Bartorilla spoke about law enforcement and justice to
8th grade students. Tom Sofield from LevittownNow also spoke to a
smaller group of 8th grade students about Freedom of the Press in the
library. What a better way to learn about our Constitution than from
those who live it every day?
Poquessing Middle School
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Teacher honored for life-saving actionsPoquessing Middle
School music teacher Debbie Flick was honored by the
Lower Southampton Township Board of Supervisors in September for her
quick
thinking and actions that saved a fifth-grade student last spring.
Debbie applied the Heimlich maneuver to a student who was choking
during lunch in the school cafeteria. Ms. Flick will also be honored by
the Neshaminy School Board at their October 9 meeting.
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Choir selected to perform at regional conference

The Poquessing Middle School Select Choir was selected to perform at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association / National Association for Music Education Eastern Division Conference on April 4th, 2019 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. The NAfME Eastern Division is comprised of PMEA and twelve other state associations for music educators in the Northeast. Of the nearly 200 submissions to this conference, Poquessing's Select Choir was chosen to share middle school choral music with hundreds of music educators from this region of the country.
Carl Sandburg Middle School
Reading teachers expand literary horizons
Members of Carl
Sandburg’s English Department joined thousands of teachers across
the country for a three-month event called Book Love: Summer Book
Club. This event was hosted by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher,
two of the country’s leaders in the literacy world. The course
included reading, online discussion, live video chats with young adult
authors, planning for a student-focused year, re-planning and
reflection.
Starting last May and ending in August, Jessica Giblin, Mary Grace Buckwalter, and MaryLou Sienko explored newer publications of young adult fiction, non-fiction, and professional texts. Book Love turned out to be a ‘course,’ richly balanced with scientific theory behind providing choice to our young readers, teaching techniques, and practical methods of matching kids to the right book.
As teachers of English and Reading, these educators believe in the power of reading to transport students to places they’ve never been, challenge their current ideas and thoughts, and build background for their futures. Therefore, they chose this summer work to help develop “Depth, Stamina, and Passion” in Sandburg readers.
Starting last May and ending in August, Jessica Giblin, Mary Grace Buckwalter, and MaryLou Sienko explored newer publications of young adult fiction, non-fiction, and professional texts. Book Love turned out to be a ‘course,’ richly balanced with scientific theory behind providing choice to our young readers, teaching techniques, and practical methods of matching kids to the right book.
As teachers of English and Reading, these educators believe in the power of reading to transport students to places they’ve never been, challenge their current ideas and thoughts, and build background for their futures. Therefore, they chose this summer work to help develop “Depth, Stamina, and Passion” in Sandburg readers.
Neshaminy High School
College Fair draws 71 colleges and universities

The 5th Annual National Honor Society College Fair drew a record number of representatives from schools, colleges and universities from throughout the region and the nation on September 24. Hundreds of students and their families filled Gym 1 at Neshaminy HS to get information on programs, majors, financial aid, scholarships and more during the two-hour event.
Members of the Neshaminy High School chapter of the National Honor Society contacted the schools and arranged the visits.
NHS junior attends national athletic leadership conference
Junior
Alexandria Ziegler
was one of only six student-athletes from across Pennsylvania by the
PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) chosen to
attend the
National Student Leadership Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana this
summer with other students from across the country. The
conference took place July 23-25, 2018. While there, she gained
first hand
experience in topics such as Perspective & Inclusion, Brain
Mapping, and Effective Communication with Teammates and Adults to name
a few. She hopes to apply some of what she has learned through
participation in soccer and basketball. The group also participated in
the Special Olympics Unified Sports Experience with the Indiana Special
Olympics.
First Responders honored at Harry E. Franks Stadium

Police officers,
firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians from throughout the
District were invited on the field during the varsity football game
Friday, September 14 in recognition of their service to the District
and the entire Neshaminy community. The most recent Football Hall of
Fame inductees were also presented: Samuel Spadaccino; Stephen Brett;
Sheila Murphy (former Athletic Director, administrator and coach); Tom
McEowen; Christopher Daino and Georg Coleman.
Neshaminy Update is published monthly during the school year and distributed to the Neshaminy community via email and web. To submit comments, suggestions or news items for consideration, please email Chris Stanley, Community Relations Coordinator. |
Neshaminy School District
2250
Langhorne-Yardley Road
Langhorne,
PA 19047
Joseph
Jones III
Superintendent
(215)
809-6000
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Neshaminy
School Board
of Directors
Marty
Sullivan - President
Bob
Feather - Vice President
John Allen Cyndie
Bowman
Irene M. Boyle Tina
Hollenbach
Adam
J. Kovitz
David Marrington Stephen
Pirritano
|
Mission Statement
The Neshaminy community builds
futures by empowering each child to become a productive citizen
and a lifelong learner.